Tonight’s game features a tired Oilers team that lost a one-goal game to Phoenix last night against a rested Los Angeles squad that when last seen trounced those same Coyotes by a 7-4 score on Thursday.

What could possibly go wrong?

The Lineup

There has been no official word on lineup changes yet, but up front there are two items of note. First, Tyler Pitlick left on crutches after getting caught awkwardly by a hip check; hopefully any injury is less serious than the knee injury that sidelined him back in January. Second, Anton Lander was scratched by Oklahoma City last night, so it seems probable that he will be in the lineup for tonight’s game (to which I would imagine Linus Omark’s reaction is a mixture of happiness for his good friend and ‘I just scored FOUR GOALS in ONE GAME’).

With at least one probable lineup shift, I’m just going to guess here and update later once we get official word. I don’t imagine we’ll see major changes to the forward unit, and I’d guess that Nick Schultz draws in as fresh legs on the blue line.

Coaching & Signs of the Apocalypse

I knew, what with all the talk of firing coaches and whatnot, that things were getting awfully grim. But I didn’t realize how low spirits were until I started noticing the reaction to DSF’s comments:

-8/+25 on a comment saying the Oilers had mostly played Eastern Conference “cream puffs”

-6/+18 on a comment saying Vancouver had all of Edmonton’s adversity but was playing great

-4/+12 on a comment agreeing that Dallas Eakins was in over his head

-4/+11 on a comment extolling the Canucks’ virtues

I won’t argue against the Canucks – they have handled some tough circumstances extremely well, and while like the Oilers they have mostly played ‘Eastern Conference cream puffs’ (8 of 13 games) they have also had a road-heavy schedule early. They just went 5-1-1 on a seven-game road-trip, which is insanely good.

What I will say is that it’s way too make Eakins the scapegoat, something that was being done in the comments here yesterday. Certainly, he’s done things I haven’t liked – he was awfully quick to haul last year’s leading goal-scorer out of the lineup, rotating a bunch of skilled first-time penalty killers into the PK all at the same time hasn’t worked well, and the Gazdic-Acton-Brown fourth line never appealed to me – but isn’t it abundantly clear at this point that firing the coach isn’t the solution?

Besides, we’ve seen this play out in reverse before. When Pat Quinn came in, the Oilers jumped out to a 6-2-1 start – one built on getting outshot badly but posting insane percentages. Quinn turned out to be probably the worst head coach in team history. This is the reverse situation: the Oilers have built a losing streak based on decent shot totals and terrible goaltending. I doubt it lasts either.

I can’t definitively say that Eakins is the solution to the problem, but the problem definitely predates his arrival.

Predictions

Game day prediction: 3-0 Los Angeles.

Obvious game day prediction: Mark Arcobello will take three shots that, while all scoring chances, somehow catch the edge of a pad or bounce off the outside of the post or something like that.

Not-so-obvious game day prediction: In the third period, with the score still 2-0, Nail Yakupov will get a glorious opportunity from the right faceoff circle. Jonathan Quick will flash the leather, then immediately skate to centre ice with his arms stretched out in the air before sliding to his knees at the middle of the ice. Don Cherry will chuckle as he’s playing the tape of it on Coach’s Corner next Saturday.

Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet, the Edmonton Journal and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

Didn't even bother reading the comments section this article was so bad. Why bother posting anything at all if your using screen shots of the most negative person on this site for most of it.
A bad day for Oilers Nation.

I've watched all of the games this year and have to say this is the best Oiler team since 06 despite their record. We would have won last night if Dubnyk was in net. I find it really pathetic how people are constantly taking shots at K Lowe on this site. How about offering constructive criticism instead of recycling the same old K Lowe bashing. Go to some other forum and take your uneducated hockey opinions with you. The Oilers are competing hard every night which is a vast improvement over past seasons. The team is obviously still too young so a little more patience is needed. Yakupov has to stop giving up 5 star to the other team with his poor defensive play. He is directly responsible for at least one goal against us every game. That being said he is getting better at using his teammates.

I wholeheartedly disagree with you willis. Eakins has destroyed the PK. He has destroyed the PP. He has decided that now, the year we were supposed to make gains, was the year we needed to overhaul basically everything these kids have been taught years previous. What a disaster. Fire Eakins now.You mention you dont like some of the things he has done but fail to mention what he has done right. Please tell me one thing he has done right?

Who is Carolina's back up goalie. With Ward down for a month might the return of Bachman spell the end of LaBarbra in Edmonton? Yesterday's game did not endear him to the coach. Carolina may be looking for some NHL experience for short term help.

Klowe is not the problem. Good lad folks your conspiracy theories are getting tired and banal. Try looking elsewhere to satiate your paranoia.

Andrew Ference may in time be known as the worst captain in oilers history - though I confess I am not familiar with what happened vis a vis corson.

Hiring a rookie coach who needs, at the very least, some on the job seasoning was a mistake for a team that is of the type that the oil are - young, talented, looking to make the next step as a team. And that is 100% MacT's fault.

While the teams failure is not 100% Eakins fault, he is clearly a net negative on the team thusfar. Thusfar he is part of the problem - not part of the solution.

That may change in time, but presently that is the reality. And with the season now lost leaving him in place does little extra harm. He can either develop into a above avg nhl coach or be replaced at the end of the season.

Were I MacT I would already be looking for a replacement - making a 24 hour decision like he did in hiring Eakins will likely only precipitate another disaster.

LA wins - in LA-sutter speak "easily", 2-1. The oil will never really be in it having been ingested in the belly of the LA python by the middle of the second period and not realizing it until five minutes left to go in the third.

We have a rookie coach getting his first look at the NHL. Isn't it appropriate that we give him the same respect and time that we give any rookie player entering the NHL?

New coach, new systems, lots of new players...what did you expect.......

^ it's because of this kind of thinking we still suck a**.
(Sorry Cameron I'm going to rip on you here).

It's because of fans like this that our team sucks. I'm sorry to say. It's obvious Katz is fine with things as long as we sell continue to sell out. Fans who honesty believe it's just a matter of time we get better. It's not a matter of time! It's a matter of bringing in the right mix of players. The easy part is finishing last and getting high draft picks. I'm tired of fans being like " it's fine, let's just wait and see". My god grow some balls! Enough is enough! I love this team too much to just turn around and jump ship. But as a fan who wants to see this team get better, I am going to sit here and b*tch till changes are made. Real fans don't sit there and blindly cheer for a loosing team. Real fans make their voices heard and don't give up till the team starts winning!

I've posted about 1000 anti DSF posts over the years. He is a flip flopping beotch, who comes here after loses to rub it in, but never shows up after a win, or when his myriad "guarantee/book it" statements flop. Remember when he was saying we need to learn from Dale Tallon!

That said, I'm done with these Oilers. I'm officially joining DSF, and I will start propping all of posts. Actually I probably will just stop caring and even visiting these sites.

Today the latest edition of Oil Change came on. It made me angry. Angry at Jack Michaels voice. Angry at the narrator, who has been saying the SAME THING for 5 years. And mostly angry at the Oilers org. Watching them laughin, riding around on Segways in OKC and have a good old time. I remember that game in OKC. i remember them getting SPANKED and the few fans who probably are die hard (you'd have to be in OKC) actually boo'd the NHL team off the ice. How pathetic is that? PAthetic enough to make a reality show.

I feel like the guy who sticks up for your loser drunkard friend. Everyone else writes him off, but you keep sticking up for him. Bailing him out of jail, getting in fights for him, carrying him home from the alley, cleaning up puke. Cause he has a good heart, and just needs another shot. Forget it. Its time for tough love Oilers.

This team is a joke, and while I still despise DSF, I am joining his side and am going to be a negative b1tch just like him until this team starts to prove they deserve anything else. I deserve it.

I still have faith in Yak City. Now would be a great time to see him explode for FIVE (5) goals and then call up Linus Omark collect from center ice anx tell him "sorry man but thats how we do it in the big leagues". Damn, I wish I had been drunk when I came up with this.

Something is brewing with the goaltending. Labarbra is not hurt
and neither is Dubnyk. Carolina deal pending perhaps...Just guessing
as i have no insight but it is awful funny Bachman gets called up.

Bet we know before the puck drops.

Its time for a deal, the downside is every other team in the league
is aware of the state we are in and will be looking to fleece the OIL.
Of course there are other teams in out situation as well- DESPERATE !

Ya goaltending sucks.. and yes the 20 22 yr old guys are expected to carry the team [no their fault for the contracts they got], but the veteran presence on this team is very limited in terms of helping build confidence in the young guys....

Worst of all are the POWDER PUFFS, on the back end posing as NHL defense men!!! They couldnt clear the front of the net if you gave them a Zamboni. I have seen midget players make bigger hits than these guys.Belov and Smid with their size are the biggest powder puffs.Someone feed these guys some raw meat before the game.

screw your anecdotal observations - they are worth less than the ether they are displayed via (especially when your bias is taken into consideration.

Point to one stat from these first 12 games that provides real prof that "this is the best Oiler team since 06 "

1) The Oilers are on pace for a 47 point season...the worst in team history.

2) The Oilers are on pace for 328 GA. The dreadful team of 2009/10 gave up "only" 284 goals.

3) The Oilers are on pace to finish the season with a goal differential of -88. That dreadful 09/10 team had a goal differential of -70.

While I don't expect things to stay as bleak as they are, you also have to remember that the current season's numbers have been generated against mostly weak opposition, the second half of the season features a heavy dose of games against the big boys in the WC.

If the Oilers haven't got things sorted out by then, all I can say is yikes.

A scrum is hardly a retribution. I want to see blood on Clifford's face; I want to see Drew Doughty laying on the ground. I don't care if we win this game. Messing with us, you pay the price. This is disgusting!

Kevin effing LOW, is this the team you build to win? If you have any sense of shame, you should take the full responsibility and get the F out.

^ it's because of this kind of thinking we still suck a**.
(Sorry Cameron I'm going to rip on you here).

It's because of fans like this that our team sucks. I'm sorry to say. It's obvious Katz is fine with things as long as we sell continue to sell out. Fans who honesty believe it's just a matter of time we get better. It's not a matter of time! It's a matter of bringing in the right mix of players. The easy part is finishing last and getting high draft picks. I'm tired of fans being like " it's fine, let's just wait and see". My god grow some balls! Enough is enough! I love this team too much to just turn around and jump ship. But as a fan who wants to see this team get better, I am going to sit here and b*tch till changes are made. Real fans don't sit there and blindly cheer for a loosing team. Real fans make their voices heard and don't give up till the team starts winning!

Time for you to get ripped. It's easy for you to bitch but how exactly do you suggest they fix it - names of trades or free agent signings that are realistic, that other teams would legitimately agree to or guys that would actually sign here........yea that's what I thought smart guy. I feel your frustration but the Oilers have had no depth for a really long time which means they have no chips to offer any other team except their young draft picks which they are trying to build around - the only thing that can be done is to be patient. The team had been run so far into the ground after the 06 run that the sad fact is it is going to take a really long time to crawl out of the hole. They have come a long way but there is still a long way to go - since 06 the Oilers have been the equivalent of an expansion franchise with the talent they have had on the roster. Lowe is responsible for thinking he could turn sh*t into gold after 06 and delayed a true rebuild by 5yrs, and then Tambo didnt help things at all. But I think MacT is on the right track, unfortunately only more time will tell....you bitching will do nothing to implement change but feel free if it makes you feel better.

I've watched all of the games this year and have to say this is the best Oiler team since 06 despite their record. We would have won last night if Dubnyk was in net. I find it really pathetic how people are constantly taking shots at K Lowe on this site. How about offering constructive criticism instead of recycling the same old K Lowe bashing. Go to some other forum and take your uneducated hockey opinions with you. The Oilers are competing hard every night which is a vast improvement over past seasons. The team is obviously still too young so a little more patience is needed. Yakupov has to stop giving up 5 star to the other team with his poor defensive play. He is directly responsible for at least one goal against us every game. That being said he is getting better at using his teammates.

You are full of it. It being sycophantic loyalty to the old, failed guard. Cronyism has destroyed the reputation of this once great franchise - largely by some of the members of its most successful roster. That cabal has been able to wreak said damage because of enablers like you.

Firing Lowe and replacing him with a bona fide, quality president of ops with no loyalties to the owner or the old guard is the only thing that will begin the the true long term rehabilitation of this decrepit organization.

It's not too early to make Eakins the skapegoat. We're 12 games into the season and his system still isn't working. That swarm defense is total chaos, who else can we blame but the coaching staff? Meanwhile in Colorado, Patrick Roy is having his players being responsible and playing with a high compete level in every game. What about our special teams? That has to be on the coaching also. Do you remember that 2-minutes 5 on 3 in Montreal? I know we won that game, but come on!

It feels like Patrick Roy leads is troops like Horatio Nelson, but we are stuck with Captain Blight.

If we keep relying on our goaltenders to win us our games all year 'round, we're destined to pick first overall again. 48 saves, 18 SOG. That's pathetic. If this team doesn't improve its play all around, it doesn't matter who we have in net. Name your goaltender, we're still going to lose most of our games. The players gotta figure this thing out, now.

This is what we deserve as fans. The majority of fans will blindly congratulate anything our management(Big Daddy)does, and strike down dissenters who float the idea that things could be different. This is what we deserve. What is more alarming is that management appears to have drunk its own kool-aid that its been ladling out to fans for years. Things need to get worse before they can get better.

They are playing pretty descent hockey 5v5, goaltending, pp/pk have been way below average. Can't win with these 3 brutal aspects of their game right now. With time they probably will come around..who knows.

Overheard this conversation this morning: Katz: morning kevin its daryl hows it goin. KL: busy, got to go to the jewelry store to get my rings cleaned, and you what you up to. Katz: gotta go to my kids peewee game, they are not playing well right now. KL: want some help? Katz: no thats ok. KL: well i offered, im not busy ya know Katz: dont we play LA tonight? KL: oh ya, i forgot, i was busy last night- had mact, smith and bucky over last nite-we watched some of our old games, man we were good. Katz: you guys sure were-so whats the gameplan tonight. KL: no plan other than i have to get to the bank before it closes and deposit my cheque. K gotta go now. Love you man. Katz: I love you too man.

Bachman is 5'10", 176 lbs, with a career save percentage of barely.900. The prototype NHL goalie is a tad bigger in the net.I guess this is where the smartest boys in the room continue to show the rest of the NHL how cool it is to think outside the box - playing with undersized players, using small inexperienced forwards on what once was a useful PK, trying out career minor leaguers (including the coaches son) instead of looking to experienced veterans, like other successful franchises do. I can just hear KLowe and MacT cackling to each other "We'll show these guys how smart we are.We're BOLD"

Next shift after the Nuge knee on knee hit Eakins puts out the Eager line. We all talk about retribution but had Eager done something stupid and taken a shot at Kopitar or one of their other skilled guys would everyone be jumping on Eakins like they did to Buffalo's coach Rolston after John Scott's head shot in Boston? We don't have the tough guys (and/or team toughness)to match with LA unfortunately. The only way to get back at LA for the shot on Nuge would be to win the game.